Editing History of Turkmenistan (section)

== Arab conquests and Islamization ==
Central Asia came under Arab control after a series of invasions in the late 7th and early 8th centuries and was incorporated into Islamic [[Caliphate]] divided between provinces of ''Mawara'un Nahr'' and [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]]. The Arab conquest brought the religion of Islam to all of the peoples of central Asia. The city of Merv was occupied by the lieutenants of the caliph [[Uthman|Uthman ibn Affan]], and was constituted as the capital of Khorasan. Using this city as their base, the Arabs, led by their commander [[Qutayba ibn Muslim]], brought under subjection [[Balkh]], [[Bukhara]], [[Fergana]] and [[Yettishar |Kashgaria]], and penetrated into China as far as the province of [[Gansu]] early in the 8th century.

Merv achieved some political spotlight in February 748 when [[Abu Muslim]] (d. 750) declared a new [[Abbasid Caliphate | Abbasid ]] dynasty at Merv, and set out from the city to conquer Iran and Iraq and establish a new capital at Baghdad. Abu Muslim was famously challenged by the goldsmith of Merv to do the right thing and not make war on fellow Muslims. The goldsmith was put to death.

In the latter part of the 8th century Merv became obnoxious to Islam as the centre of heretical propaganda preached by al-Muqanna "The Veiled Prophet of Khorasan". Present Turkmenistan was ruled by [[Tahirid dynasty|Tahirids]] between 821 and 873. In 873, Arab rule in Central Asia came to an end as a result of the [[Saffarid dynasty|Saffarid]] conquest. During their dominion Merv, like [[Samarkand]] and Bokhara, was one of the great schools of learning, and the celebrated historian [[Yaqut al-Hamawi|Yaqut]] studied in its libraries. Merv produced a number of scholars in various branches of knowledge, such as Islamic law, [[Hadith]], history, literature, and the like. Several scholars have the name: Marwazi (المروزي) designating them as hailing from Merv. But Saffarid rule was brief and they were defeated by [[Samanid Empire|Samanid ]] in 901. The Samanid dynasty weakened after the second half of the 10th century and [[Ghaznavids]] took present Turkmenistan in the 990s. But, they challenged with [[Seljuk dynasty |Seljuks]], newcomers from north. Seljuks' decisive victory against them, present Turkmenistan was passed to them in 1041.